Greasemonkey

X2 that. It amazes me how many riders insist on riding in the middle. Especially around bends. Me, I like to put my right ski into the snowbank and let it hold me around the bend, whenever I can, tight to the right. How about the idiots that stop side by side on the trail to talk? Nothing like cresting a hill or rounding a bend, only to have that in front of you. It's all only common sense. By the way iceman, you met some of the guys I usually ride with in St. Raymond a couple of weeks ago. They aren't members of this site though. Two couples was from S. Jersey, one couple from near Buffalo, etc. They told me they met you. I couldn't make that trip.

Looks like NJ will get more snow than parts of Quebec and NY again. Go figure.

X2 here. We leave our vehicles there for a week at a time and never once have had or heard of any problems. Of course, Richard is a member of this blog I believe.

All I can say is NICE! Love your section by section trail reports and pics. I noticed in that pic with the on coming group, some idiot was on your side. Isn't it fun when you see that as you're going around a bend? How some people think is beyond me.

Seems like everything I look for has been covered. I have a pouch that I keep my money envelope, passport, sled registration, phone, and wallet in. I like to have a deep inner pocket that zippers that I can fit this into. Most jackets don't have an inner pocket deep enough. Waterproof and windproof a must. Arctic Cat used to make their inner liners to double as a lightweight jacket. I would use it in that capacity. I like elbow reinforcements. As for graphics, if I buy an OEM jacket, I like the brand name across the back and down both sleeves with maybe a logo over the left side above the pocket. I like colorful jackets nice contrasts and piping. I do like the "shorty" design that comes down to around the belt level. Zippers have to be strong and ice cannot build up on them. I think that a little strap that buckles just below the neck is nice. This way if you zipper it up but don't actually zip it all the way up the collar to form a turtleneck, it will hold the jacket closed there so the zipper can't work it's way down. ( I think I explained that right!). Other than that, it must be arctic temperature rated.

I'm with you. I like it when the riders coming the other way signal how many are coming at you. Too many times I have had riders signal that there are more riders coming, yet they were separated from the group. Knowing there were still more coming made me, I ride with more caution. As for taking your hand off the handlebars, I've never had a problem giving hand signals at 80 mph, even around bends at high speeds. If your sled handles the way it should, you shouldn't have an issue. I assume it could happen but I've never seen anyone lose control from giving hand signals. This of course is just my preference. I like to know who's coming.

Hey Viper2, it has been since the late 80's since I was out to that area. Do you remember there was a house trailer type building run by a Native Indian who wore all kinds of turquoise before the lumber yard. Is that Repos, because I believe that's what was the name written on the building, Depennure Repos. That guy was a character, friendly as hell. We were new to the area at the time and he told us to jump on the tracks to Casey to fuel up. The lumber yard didn't have it at the time. Casey had it at the train station in 55 gallon drums. Like I said, we were new to venturing out past the Zenon/St. Michel area. Couldn't believe that we had to buy gas out of drums! Reading your post this morning brought back the route we took in my mind. I have to get back into that area at least one more time soon. Especially after Alain's latest post here. I hope I'm remembering the right thing here.

Downgrades to 4-8 inches. Bummer.

Nope. Been saying for years that I need one but always procrastinate. I will not ride my Apex around here no matter what. Can't ride here with studs due to no base. A ton of people ride Wharton State Forest, but I refuse. Snow total depends on the tracks of the storms. I heard minimum was 1 foot. My buddy's son just got back from Mt. Tremblant skiing. Said there's good snow at the resort but sucks outside the area. Of course he's not a snowmobiler but that still didn't sound good.

Hey Rupp, Did you hear up to 2 1/2 feet Tuesday? I guess this will be the 2nd year in a row we get more snow than the North! It's nutz!

This was the best ending. LOL. They don't quite have the same spark without Ty Domi!

X2 on the Doo. A 500lb turbo 1200 would be crazy! As long as they can keep the vibration down with that 2 lunger.

Welcome, both of you. If you ever have a question about Quebec riding, you will not find a better site to get your answers.

An oil change after every ride? That would mean you put 5000 miles on a trip! I can't speak for the Cats or Doo's, but the Yamaha is good for 5000 or so miles before a scheduled oil change. Trading for a new warranty, if you can do it, is of course the best way. I used to do it every 2 years till I went to the Apex. I've had 2 since 2006 and see no new one in site, no need. Selling used ones all depends on the dealer. The one I use sells out his used stock by the middle of Jan. and he gets some real high mile trades, over 10,000 miles. Well, this post is getting hijacked, so, back to the ethanol topic.

Sorry about that SS. I've owned 3 Cats, 2 700 Wildcat EFI's and a ZRT800. Loved them all. That was a comment that some owners were using to describe their sleds after they were beat at a local plowed lake by the Apex's. It was 7 out of 8 losses. Maybe those 7 Z1's weren't running right. I also agree with you about the cost of maintaining these trails. The fuel cost alone must be astronomical.

You are 100% right. The dry gas you use in snowmobiles is isopropyl, or at least it's supposed to be. The other kind of dry gas that is out is methanol, not ethanol.

Oh boy. I got involved in a huge debate/argument over this crap on the Totallyamaha website. Ethanol gas is just downright evil stuff. As was stated, you have to run additive when you fuel up or you risk the wrath of this stuff. It won't always harm your motors but it's hit or miss. This fuel does not have a long shelf life and it draws moisture into itself. If the tank that it's stored in, either at the pump or your gas tank, is vented into the atmosphere, then it will draw moisture into the tank. This stuff is ruining the outboard motor industry. There is a huge class action lawsuit in the works against the Federal Government stating that this stuff was forced on us without any long term testing. I have seen some incredible sites inside of carbs and fuel systems of ATV's, PWC's, and sleds that have come into my shop from this stuff. Melted floats, disintegrating fuel lines, etc. I could stay on my soapbox over this stuff all day but I don't want to crash the site!

18" here now. 22" first storm last year. Something is defiantly wrong with this picture. Had over 80" last year. So much for that global warming idea! Isn't this storm dumping on New Brunswick and your area right now?

It's fun to read the reports with so many good pictures.

You think you're too far south for this, we got a foot and a half and we're 300 miles south of you!

You got that right. It's pretty sad when NJ gets more snow than parts of upstate NY and Canada! Last winter we had over 80" in my area! I'm starting to think it's time to get an old, used sled just to use around here. I won't ride my current sled around here because there is never any base, just snow than dirt. Studs are no good either. We have around 17" right now. Then, by New Years, it'll be 53 degrees.

X2 on the Sat. phone. If something like that had happened in a very remote area, that could have been a disaster.

I think everyone on here waits every week for your thorough reports and your great pics. You ride the area that I, and probably most others, all started our Canadian experiences at. Even though it tends to get crowded around there, I still enjoy a trip into the area occasionally. Keep up the great work. Maybe we'll cross paths someday at La Gaciere or Cabanon.

Merry Christmas to all who prey to the Snow Gods.

It was only supposed to be a joke because it's usually so crowded that 2 hours after a groomer passes, it's all moguled up again.. I don't ride there either. Remember, it was sayings that bring a smile.